29. The Dance

"Oh my" Kab said slowly, as he stood at the entrance studying Liva and Angelica.

*He almost looks sad. Envious? Angry? All those? Angelica mused.

"My Lord, might we know the next steps in this dance?" Liva offered softly, a musical touch sprinkled over her words.

Kab bowed low, an old, clumsy imitation of traditional formal court bow. "My Lady, I am no lord. I have clawed to what power I possess over the heaped corpses of my rivals, harvesting the terrified obedience of those I chose to spare. Brutally ruthless, I dance this dance of the long dark, but I do not offer light and love to my people as you do to yours. I am a creation of dark necessity, free of any hint of nobility."

Liva dipped in a formal courtsey reply, with Angelica and Antaryon each falling to a knee to not be above their betters, eyes lowered as protocol demanded.

After he straightened, Kab continued "Now..." his voiced trailed off as he waved in a servants carrying trays, upon which a wide array of masquerade masks were neatly laid out upon velvet cloth. After they had placed them upon a table and scurried out, Kab swearing at them as they went, then composing himself before continuing. "Now we are to attend the Grand Ball. These are normally dry and dull matters held every month simply to pass the time, but this one is special because we have so many *guests* with us on the island. Each please choose a mask." He gestured to the trays, and stepped back expectantly.

Liva chose a simple mask that was made of fine metal, worked to a heart shape above the eyes, and two long curves meeting at the delicate nose piece. The main was in a red that complimented her dress, white below the eyes, and silver flowers and vines traced around the edges and eyes. "How does this look?" she lifted it up and asked Kab, who replied with a nod and a broad smile.

"Here?" Kab gestured to a similar mask that each had feathers above and fine silver chains draped below, "For your man?".

Taking up the mask Liva offered it to Antrayon, who accepted it gingerly and held it up in place. "M'Lady?"

"Yes, it should work well." Liva replied.

"It does not obstruct your view at all?" Kab asked, his head at a curious angle. "Rip the feathers off if you need to."

Antaryon pressed the mask firmly in place, then dipped his head, lifted his chin, and turned side to side all while keeping his eyes locked on their lethal host. "No M'Lord, it is a well chosen fit."

Angelica waited for a mask to be chosen for her, fingers absently tracing over one with black and white split vertically, detailed silver on black, onyx on white, spiralling away from the eyes. It had outlandish triangles of fabric curving back and up from the face, and a white collar below. The whole trimmed with golden cord, it must have taken weeks to make.

"Yes" Kab said enthusiastically. "That one? What say you, My Lady?"

"Can you see in it?" Liva asked softly, offering a plausible excuse to decline.

"We shall see, M'Lady" Angelica said with bright enthusiasm. The collar went on fist, Antaryon helping her with the ribbon lacing at the back. The headdress went on next, Angelica looking down holding it in place as Antaryon tied the various ribbons being careful to re-arrange her hair over them. *I can feel his nervousness. He risks everything to aid me, yet still feels nervous over touching my hair? I'll never understand boys. She lifted her head and shook it gently, the mask sitting perfectly as if made just for her.

"Oh yes." Liva clapped her hands. "Definitely."

Kab smiled, a strange look of happiness and perhaps pity playing over his face. "My Lady, if you would be so kind as to have your mask ribbons tied?"

"Oh, sorry" Liva lifted her mask into place, and Angelica carefully tied the ribbons to hold it in place, delicately ensuring they were hidden by Liva's hair.

Kab offered his arm to Liva. "Now we are ready. There will be good food, fine wine, and bright music." Liva took his arm, and Kab whispered "But step carefully M'Lady, for tonight we dance with death, and many will not see the dawn."

Angelica was glad of the mask, hiding the loss of colour from her cheeks. What have I got us into?

--------///-------

A riot of rich red and orange hues were painted carelessly over the looming grey blue masses of the retreating clouds, Angelica's light high above even after the sun slipped below the horizon as day succumbed to night. Luna was peeking through a gap in the clouds, but her usual hopeful light was deeply muted by the hazy red dust and ash of the fires. A sharp chill breeze reminded them of the season, carrying a trace of the ocean.

Ripping her gaze from the freedom of the skies above, Angelica felt her breath warm on her cheeks beneath the mask, and with Antaryon at her side followed Kab and Liva. They wove though the tangle of tents and lavish temporary gardens, their way lit by ornate torches and lanterns. The castle loomed ever closer, Angelica shivered at the glinted reflections of eyes watching their every move. It was a relief when they turned towards the tall arch of stone she had seen earlier, brightly lit by two merry braziers. Notes from a flute and lute chased each other in a delicate tune as they approached, the musicians hidden behind cloth walls.

"Greetings" a herald began in a clear polished voice. "Whom may I have the pleasure of announcing?"

"Screw you" Kab said as he walked past the Herald without pausing.

"My Lords, Ladies!" the herald called out loudly enough to avoid rebuke but not so loudly as to be heard far "Lord Kab and guests."

"I'll kill him later" Kab muttered darkly, the Herald nodding and smiling in reply without a hint of concern.

Kab had only taken a couple paces more when a Mann in long flowing scarlet robes trimmed with gold, wearing an imposing full mask in the style of a lion stepped in front, blocking his way through the arch beyond. With a gravelly dry voice hissed quietly "Now now, it is far too early in the evening for that, even for you."

Kab stopped, dipped his head, and replied "Lord Souzou, may I introduce a cherished guest her Highness the Fairy Queen."

"But ..." the Mann seemed lost for a moment, as if deciding whether to rebuke Kab for lying or something else. His mask tilted as he studied the vision upon Kab's arm, then recovered quickly, bowing low with practiced grace. "My Lady, it is most unusual for you to be here. Please, anything you need, you have but to ask it of me. I am the Lord of this Dance, what I say here tonight is law. Anything at all. Welcome, enjoy, may the flowers sing you home." He turned looking at Kab "Have it known she is under *my* protection, no harm may come to her without my approval." His tone left no room for question that it was not a matter for discussion.

Angelica felt a shiver run up her spine as she realized what it was about the scarlet Lord that unnerved her so. His chest was perfectly still ... he was not even pretending to breathe. 'Without my approval' echoed in her mind as Kab led Liva past the Scarlet Lord, who glanced over Antaryon and Angelica, his interest unmistakably fixed on Liva.

Other guests were clearly watching the entrance with curiosity, a ripple of conversation melded into the babble beyond as they passed under the arch. Angelica tried to make sense of the swirling guests in the huge space. A broad circle of arches made of old stone swept left and right, with poles about the middle holding a cloth roof high above them. The roof was not continuous, leaving broad views of the sky, late sunset yielding to night. Banners were hanging at intervals around the circumference, less ornate ones near the sides, with black, gold, and silver ones dominating the distant side opposite. Tables were clustered at some of the arches, with servants brining in platters or musicians playing.

Kab was walking again, and as no-one was remotely interested in servants she simply followed, counting the arches. She kept losing count, the swirling people and banners foiling her. *But there are carvings on the stone between the arches, old carvings, mostly hidden by banners. Those here did not make this place.

A Mann in brightly polished green armour all but walked into Kab, flanked by two more soldiers obviously ready for a fight, hands on their sword hilts and feet ready. "Kab, you are ordered to present your guests to My Liege" the Mann hissed from behind his smiling mask with its long beak and horns.

"Screw you." Kab replied "Tell your boss to wait his thrice dammed turn."

"Bold, but stupid as always" the Mann replied. "He'll make you pay for this insult."

"And? If he wanted to be first he would have come himself." Kab replied casually. "Now piss off."

One of the soldiers began to draw, only to let go of the hilt permitting the blade to ease back into its scabbard. He uttered a word in a language Angelica did not understand, and all three glanced to their left then bowing withdrew.

"Charming as always Kab?" A tall Mann dressed in ink-black silken robes approached, the curious crowd melting away from him. His mask was a silver wolf, and he wore a heavy black and silver wolf fur cloak the Northerners preferred. For all the elegant clothing, it was hard to miss the battered old war axe worn effortlessly at his side.

He stopped before Liva, and when she did not move he put his fist over his heart and dipped his head in salute. She inclined hers in reply, still waiting for him to speak first.

"My Lady" he began, chewing over his words with care. "What cruel wind blew you to these shores?"

"My Lord" Liva replied "The fires have forced many from their homes, the world is being remade."

"I had heard talk of such, but did not believe it true." the Mann replied, stepping closer to Liva and offering his arm. "Come, you must be hungry."

Kab made a low growling sound.

"Oh come now, she'll be safer with me that with you" the Lord hissed at Kab. Turning back to Liva, he said in a carefully perfect tone heavy with the Northern accent "My Lady, my name is Emery. No harm shall befall you while you are with me, nor is there any price to my hospitality. I only offer hospitality to a traveller as my people long have before."

"The same people famously known for raiding and plundering?" Kab muttered.

"But we were nice to anyone who was skilled enough be alive when they came to us" Emery shot back, "Remember your place" he said with quiet finality.

Liva took Emery's arm, and the couple floated though the parting ocean of revelers towards a set of tables at the far side of the forum, nestled beneath an imposing cluster of silver and black banners.

Kab stood still, his hands clenching and flexing in barely suppressed rage. Without bothering with Antaryon or Angelica, he stalked off behind the silver wolf and the talk of the party.

The tide of masked figures swept back into the wake left by the nobles, colourful masks and robes swirling about Angelica as she stood still, indecisive.

"Shouldn't we go with M'Lady?" Antaryon whispered urgently.

"Doubtless she is safer for the moment than we are." Angelica replied softly, turning slowly to make sense of what was unfolding. "The banners" she continued at Antaryon's question with his tilted mask. "So many banners, and most carefully hiding their interest. Like a Peteroguin circling a foal too far from the mare. Our Lady is safe for now, the others would not permit their own plots to be spoiled so early in the evening."

"And yet" Antaryon whispered "I really think we should be with her."

"You are probably right. Go." Angelica gestured towards the cluster of black and silver, and touching Antaryon lightly on his good arm whispered close "Remember, no heroics."

Antaryon took a half step, but then turned back "But -"

Angelica nodded, lent close and whispered "I was born to dances like these, I will be fine. Stay with her."

With a nod, Antaryon stepped smoothly behind a pair of plumed nobles and vanished into the milieu.

Angelica turned slowly, then with all the inelegance she could muster she plodded directly towards the tables set far from the place of honour, trudging to the faded blue banners where folk seemed more interested in their cups than the intrigues of the high tables.

Did I just make a terrible mistake? The thought gnawed at her with every step. No, I have to trust them. She resisted the urge to look back, to run to Antaryon, to urge Liva to flee. She had her part to play, as did they. What do unimportant servants do at a ball?

She caught the scents from the table ... honey roasted meat, sweet cakes, ale and mead. Again doubt rippled up her spine ... her intuition was that in this place, there would be no profit in poison. All too soon, I will find out.